The Labor enquirer., 1887-05-21
DISTRICT 20 KICKING.
IL Il Going fos the Scalp OF the Executive
Board-Powderly In Chicago.
Chicago News (Capitaiist).

Chicago News (CapitaiisD.
The expulsion from the order of the
Knights of Labor of the officers of Aurora
Assembly No. 9545, of Columbus, Ohio, be.
cause of the support they rendered Mrs
Parsons at the time of her arrest in that
city, will not pass unnoticed by the num-
erous adversaries of Mr.. Powderly. II
furnishes his enemies ammunition for new
attacks, and they are determined to use it
as pretext for general war against the
chief of the order. They argue that Pow
derly has no right to punish Knights for
aiding sister Knight in distress.
Every member of the order is bound
by our constitution to do so," said a
knight of Labor, "and because the Colum-
bus Knights obeyed the constitution and
did their duty they are to be bounced.
Do you suppose that we will allow this to
be done They will be reinstated or
there will be war, the outcome of which
will be the downfall of Powderly and his
lieutenants. The General Executive Board
has violated the constitution. 1t has over
stepped its authority, that is clear to
everybody, and all honest Knights
throughout the United States will raise
their voices in vigorous protest against
such an arbitrary act. This persecution
of men and women because they follow
certain ideas has got to be stopped, and
we will stop it first in the order of the
Knights of Labor"
Steps have already been taken by Dis
trict Assembly 40, of New York, of which
Mrs. Parsons is member, as well as Dis
trict Assemblies "a and 81, of Chicago,
and District Assembly AZ, of Ohio, to issue
a formal protest against the expulsion of
the Columbus Knights and to demand
their reinstatement. 1t is expected that
the Knights of Michigan and in the west
ern states will also join in the protest, and
Mrs. Parsons may soon become the cause
of prolonged and hot fight in the ranks
of the Knights of Labor.
"District Assembly 40, of New York, is
not to be sneezed at" said George Schil-
ling. "a member of that organization
has been grossly insulted, and it will de-
mand her vindication. This case will be
considered in all district and local assem-
blies of this country, and we will find out
whether or not the expulsion of our Ohio
brothers is according to our laws. 1t is
the duty of all true Knights to stand by
each other, and for this reason we will
take up the cause of our wronged brother
Knights in Columbus"
The circular of Assembly S133, Knights
of Labor of Portland, Oregon, denouncing
General Master Workman Powderly as
capitalistic hireling and traitor to the
cause of labor, was the topic upon which
the Knights of Labor in the city conversed
principally yesterday. They were grouped
together in their usual haunts, talking in
smothered tones and assuming an air of
great secrecy.
Richard Griffiths, general worthy fore
man of the Knights of Labor, did not re-
gard the circular as indicative of any
great amount of feeling against Powderly.
'Its membership" he added, sis but small
anyway-a drop in the bucket-and prob
ably the circular was issued over the
heads of very respectable minority of
its own members. If some small western
delegation in choosing delegates to ma
tional presidential convention were to bolt
the party it wouldn't shock the rest of the
party in the United States. Oh, no, it's
trivial affair. y
William Turnbull, secretary of District
Assembly "a, was very reticent, and pre-
tended to know nothing of the feeling in
Chicago.
George Rodgers had seen the circular,
but had not made up his mind as to the
outcome.
1t was evident from the manner of all
those approached that they were afraid to
put themselves on record as saying any
thing openly against Powderly. A gray
whiskered veteran, who told the reporter
confdentially that he was the most ancient
living member of the order now out of
jail, volunteered the information that
there was great fuss brewing among the
Knights in this city. "You see," he con-
tinued, "the aristocratic Terrence V. him
self-that's Powderly--was here Friday,
but he didn't condescend to- stay among
us long enough to give US any advice. We
have longed to hear from him in person
regarding the situation here, and it was
thought that he would at least favor some
of our acknowledged leaders with an in
terview or conference. But he didn't
His mission west is political one, patch
ing up his fences for next OctOber's con-
vention.
''That's the way he did last time-went
around and made love to the western
members before election and then went
back to his native state to throw cold